Phytoplankton Life In Reef Tank

[ptrick21186]

Was looking for some information on live phytoplankton in a reef tank system. Specifically what it's doing once it's added. Is it reproducing? Does it just get sucked up into my skimmer? How to tell if you're dosing enough (have a sufficient enough population at any one time)? Basically the science behind it.

 

[ptrick21186]

bump

 

[marcinpolak]

I think Algaebarn has a couple articles on it

just look at their blog section

 

[ptrick21186]

Ya I checked them out. Not much to offer other than why buying their product is so great for your tank. Looking for more technical information

 

[CincyReefer07]

I’d honestly like to know too… I’ve always dosed it every couple days in my tank for years, but honestly, I’ve been doing so not really with a full understanding of what it’s doing.

 

[ptrick21186]

I’d honestly like to know too… I’ve always dosed it every couple days in my tank for years, but honestly, I’ve been doing so not really with a full understanding of what it’s doing.

Exactly. Like how does it compare to what it's doing in the tank as opposed to what it would be doing if it were in the ocean.

 

[marcinpolak]

#1 Essential Guide to Reef Tanks and Phytoplankton (Expert Advice)

Detailed Guide. Understanding the Microscopic World of Phytoplankton and Reef Tanks. Reef Tank Phytoplankton – Forget Everything You Think You Know.

www.reefhacks.com

Maybe this can help? I apologize I can’t be much help

 

[Spare time]

It gets eaten or filtered out. Protein skimmers sterilize water, hence one reason I don't like using them if you dose things like phytoplankton (or that one should run them on a timer).

 

[ptrick21186]

Obviously the size of the skimmer plays a factor but I wonder how long they're in the tank before they actually get skimmed out

 

[fryman]

I wish I had a "scientific" reference and would love to hear one. All I got is anecdotal.

I dose 6 liters a day live phyto to a 100 gallon display. At first this would turn the water green for abit, but now it's all gone (visibly) in less than an hour. I have a skimmer but turned it off while dosing phyto and this doesn't make any difference.

I think phyto doesn't live long in a reef tank. It's the bottom of the food pyramid, and so many things will eat it. In a closed glass box, phyto predators seemingly reproduce very, very fast.

At least, that's my theory.

 

[Lavey29]

Unlike the ocean it's very difficult to get phytoplankton to reproduce in our closed loop tank systems from the info I've read on the internet hence the reason we must dose it.

 

[Spare time]

Unlike the ocean it's very difficult to get phytoplankton to reproduce in our closed loop tank systems from the info I've read on the internet hence the reason we must dose it.

I always laugh when I see phyto blooms in a tank because all of the zooplankton must have thought they died and went to paradise haha

 

[Lavey29]

I always laugh when I see phyto blooms in a tank because all of the zooplankton must have thought they died and went to paradise haha

How do you know they are phyto blooms?

Internet source

phytoplankton are an abundant food source for many bivalves, soft corals, sponges, and zooplankton (such as copepods). In-home marine aquariums, however, phytoplankton generally don't make an appearance. Without the natural supply from the ocean, you don't see these microscopic plants.

Then there is this which contradicts

Zooplankton and phytoplankton can live in the refugium without being over harvested by the fish, corals, and other invertebrates found in the display tank. On a regular basis, some of that plankton will be washed through the display tank and contribute food.

 

[Spare time]

How do you know they are phyto blooms?

Internet source

phytoplankton are an abundant food source for many bivalves, soft corals, sponges, and zooplankton (such as copepods). In-home marine aquariums, however, phytoplankton generally don't make an appearance. Without the natural supply from the ocean, you don't see these microscopic plants.

Then there is this which contradicts

Zooplankton and phytoplankton can live in the refugium without being over harvested by the fish, corals, and other invertebrates found in the display tank. On a regular basis, some of that plankton will be washed through the display tank and contribute food.

Oh they are definitely rare
, but they are free floating green algae in those tanks and definitely phyto. It's fascinating when it happens

 

[Lavey29]

Oh they are definitely rare
, but they are free floating green algae in those tanks and definitely phyto. It's fascinating when it happens

Seems like the primary reasons phytoplankton don't reproduce and populate reef tanks is due to skimmers, chemical media, filters, etc... from what I've read. There are those rare reef tanks that only use a large refugium separate tank for their filtration purposes and I could see where conditions might allow phytoplankton to flourish there.

 

[ptrick21186]

Seems like the primary reasons phytoplankton don't reproduce and populate reef tanks is due to skimmers, chemical media, filters, etc... from what I've read. There are those rare reef tanks that only use a large refugium separate tank for their filtration purposes and I could see where conditions might allow phytoplankton to flourish there.

Yes but by this logic if you had a system void of all mechanical and chemical filtration wouldn't they be able to reproduce? Why is it we can get them to reproduce in a jar but not in the tank? Is predation that big of a factor?

 

[South Carolina reef]

I to wonder what the benefits are. I will share I've been dosing Tommy's phytoplankton for about a month or so. I read it seems to help with cyano as I was / am having a bit of an issue with this. Now I can't say 100% this helps but I will say it has noticeably reduced it I mean a lot. I also know my phosphate and nitrate numbers are way down. Especially phosphate. Granted I'm sure my uv sterilizer will "kill" the phytoplankton. I do pay close attention to my animals as I work from home so I'm able to monitor things closely. I also believe it can't really hurt as it is a part of a natural balance in the ecosystem. Just my opinion

 

[demonclownfish]

When a UV-sterilizer mentions it solves "green-water" it is saying it kills phytoplankton and other waterborne photosynthetic organisms. A protein skimmer is alot less efficient at removing these from the water column.

 

[Lavey29]

Yes but by this logic if you had a system void of all mechanical and chemical filtration wouldn't they be able to reproduce? Why is it we can get them to reproduce in a jar but not in the tank? Is predation that big of a factor?

Maybe there are to many predator organisms in the tank so the phytoplankton can't sustain itself. Like putting multiple mandarins in a tank and wondering why your pod population is always depleted and unable to reproduce?

 

[Spare time]

Yes but by this logic if you had a system void of all mechanical and chemical filtration wouldn't they be able to reproduce? Why is it we can get them to reproduce in a jar but not in the tank? Is predation that big of a factor?

Predation and competition is likely a huge factor, hence why sterilization is so important when culturing phyto. As a base of the ocean food chain, there are massive amounts of creatures that consume them.